A long-time community leader and educator who has worked diligently throughout his life to serve others and his community.
Dr. Jeff Holness came to the United States as a child over 30 years ago and grew up in Fort Lauderdale where he graduated from Dillard High School. Dr. Holness earned a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Science in Education at Nova Southeastern University. In addition, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Florida Atlantic University. He is the proud father of two wonderful sons, Jordan (16) and Matthew (12). Both of his sons attend public schools in Broward County.
Dr. Holness has dedicated his scholastic talents in the betterment of the students in Broward County with the continual success for all children in mind. As an active educator in Broward County, he has worked for over 15 years as a teacher in Broward County Schools; teaching at Walter C. Young Middle School, Apollo Middle School, Lyons Creek Middle School, Dillard Community School, and Parkway Community School. He also has experience in Higher Education settings as a former Florida Atlantic University’s clinical intern educator.
Dr. Holness maintains his current State of Florida Professional Teaching Certificate and is certified in the following areas: Educational Leadership, Mathematics, Social Science, and Gifted Endorsed. He has also completed all requirements to receive a Broward County School Certificate in Teaching Students with Disabilities.
As a long-time educational and community leader, Dr. Jeff Holness has served on various Board and committees throughout Broward County. He has served as a member of Broward County’s Consumer Protection Board, coordinator of Anti-Defamation League, a past member of the Broward Teacher’s Union, chair of the City of Plantation Parks and Recreation Board and helped the city develop and maintain over 40 beautiful well-kept parks in the county providing adequate recreational activities for all residents. With his commitment, dedication and proven results, Dr. Holness was re-elected unanimously to continue to chair the Plantation Board of Parks and Recreation in the 2014-2015 year. He has also served for many years as a School Advisory Council member and/or chair for several schools in Broward County. Further, he served as Zone Business Partner and ESOL coordinator while being a teacher at Lyons Creek Middle School. He was the founder of Student Learning Communities at Lyons Creek Middle School where he helped over 400 students enrolled in the program achieve significant success and learning gains on the state standardize assessments. On the Summer Scholarship Committee, Dr. Holness helped grant scholarships to children of families experiencing financial hardship so those children could attend summer camps.
Philanthropically, Dr. Holness has awarded several fully paid 6-month scholarships yearly to students with economic challenges so they could attend his math and reading centers. He also conducts Back to School Drives to help economically disadvantaged students with necessary school supplies at the onset of the school year including students at Village Elementary in Sunrise. He has also contributed significantly on a yearly basis to PTA’s, student clubs and Broward school related activities. Dr. Holness has supported numerous charities including Relay for Life Cancer Society, Family First, Support Wildlife, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Stop Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis Society and Broward Education Foundation.
Dr. Holness civic involvement included being a member of several Kiwanis clubs and has served as president for Lauderhill Kiwanis. In addition to being a past president of Kiwanis he received the Kiwanis Lt. Governors Recognition Award for High Performance. Dr. Holness has also served as a member of several community organizations, homeowners associations and community clubs.
Dr. Holness has received numerous recognitions for his contribution to students’ success including Social Science Teacher of the Year (Walter C Young Middle), Social Science Teacher of the Year (Apollo Middle), and Broward County Social Science Teacher of the Year Finalist. He worked as a college intern educator and an associate university professor teaching in the field of communications for over 10 years. He is currently a learning center small business owner and director helping children reach their full potential to not only succeed in school but to become productive members of the society.
His Top Priorities for District 5
1. Closing Learning Gaps as a Result of the Covid Pandemic
2. Effectively Meeting the Needs of ESE Students
3. Increasing Teachers and Employees' Salaries and Benefits
4. Building Strong Community Partnerships
5. Improving School Safety and Addressing Mental Health
